Lexus LC 500 unveiled

[tcG]

Remember that concept car Lexus teased us with back in 2012? The one that was, of course, too complex, too sleek, too awesome to make it to production?

...that car?

Well, a production version was unveiled today at the Detroit Auto Show. And by god it looks pretty much the same as the concept. Such a radical design will have its detractors, but I think it looks absolutely rad. As far as I can tell, Lexus has hit a home run with its design language as of late and in a world of increasingly homogenized automotive appliances, these look unlike anything else.

Let's hope this is the first flash in a repeat of the SC/Supra saga, when in the early 1990s Toyota released the SC400 first, and then the Supra a few years later on the same chassis.

Pics:

 

[bradly1101]

Very nice!

 

[ElFenix]

lexus's new interior design elements are really nice but the exterior of that car is way too busy. blackout C/D pillars are hideous, as is the chrome strip roof gutter, and the brightwork stabbing down from the lights. also, the car looks like its bent in half. in fact, if you took a first gen G35 coupe and bent it in a bit at the C pillar it'd look about like this.

and as someone who remembers mac LC pizza boxes in every classroom... Low Cost is a bad letter combination for a lexus.

 

[tcG]

Can you imagine this thing driving down the road? It looks like a freaking concept car.

 

[ChronoReverse]

Can you imagine this thing driving down the road? It looks like a freaking concept car.

That's the point. The concept car was something everyone said would never be made into a production one without major changes but it's looking like Toyota is really going to do it.

 

[JackBurton]

How much?

 

[Viper GTS]

I'd be surprised if it's much under 100k base. Think M6 territory.

Viper GTS

 

[Sulaco]

That grille is simply beyond hideous.

 

[LTC8K6]

The catfish face ruins it.

 

[AdamK47]

They took the sculpting of headlights and taillights around the body lines to cartoonish levels.

 

[Demo24]

Lexus really needs to find a new design language that isn't so busy. The grill works better on cars, but not really on this one.

Also that interior is very....brown. The speakers coming off the instrument cluster is strange as well. Can't say I think this design will age well.

 

[JulesMaximus]

:thumbsup: I think it looks fantastic. Love the dark beige interior.

http://jalopnik.com/the-100-000-lexus-lc-500-is-the-most-badass-lexus-sinc-1752278150

The $100,000 Lexus LC 500 Is The Most Badass Lexus Since The LFA

This new LC is not based on the lesser Lexus RC coupe, but they do share an engine: Lexus’ 5.0 liter, naturally aspirated V8. The failing of this engine is that it’s a little short on torque for an engine its size, with 389 lb-ft at a rather high 4,800 RPM. That said, it makes a good 467 horsepower, revs up to 7,300 RPM and sounds extremely throaty while doing so.

It’s a high-value engine, and now it’s going in a high-value car. Lexus says this LC 500 will start at just under $100,000, though the world will know it as a six-figure car. A new 10-speed automatic, carbon fiber in the door structure and an optional carbon-fiber roof help justify the price, I suppose.

That and it looks completely wild. In person it really comes across as a beautiful widebody, even with the somewhat abrupt detailing, only just barely changed from the LF-LC concept upon which this production car is based.

 

[squirrel dog]

I too find the grill of all Lexus ugly , fish like , or like a baleen whale , sounding .

 

[JulesMaximus]

Lexus really needs to find a new design language that isn't so busy. The grill works better on cars, but not really on this one.

Also that interior is very....brown. The speakers coming off the instrument cluster is strange as well. Can't say I think this design will age well.

WTF? I don't see any speakers coming off the instrument cluster.

Interior looks fantastic IMO.

 

[SearchMaster]

I'm not a huge fan of the interior either...while it looks rich and luxurious, the squared off dash reminds me of 70's and 80's GM dashboards. I do think the exterior is sexy as hell though.

 

[Demo24]

WTF? I don't see any speakers coming off the instrument cluster.

Interior looks fantastic IMO.

Then what else are those silver cylinders up by where the speedo is.

 

[ChronoReverse]

That's the controls for the shifter if it's like on the LFA.

Things you can adjust include whether to shift smoothly or as fast as possible, track versus cruising shift points, automatic or fully manual.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Did Lexus scoop up all the out of work Pontiac designers? Good god that thing is a hideously overwrought and tortured piece of plastic. The bottom feeder face with a grill full of cheap plastic is just awful. The interior is one of the worst I've seen lately with the monochrome tan that is horribly mismatched. And what is that giant black plastic glare and fingerprint magnet at mid dash level?

 

[razel]

Agree with ElFenix. I love the straight simple lines in that interior.

 

[Pocatello]

This car reminds me of a person with a nice body with butterface. When looking at the back and the side, you're saying more more more, but when you see the face, you're deeply disappointed. Actually, the rear of this car is ugly too.

 

[JulesMaximus]

OK... I can't take it anymore. What the hell is wrong with you people? Complaining about a sweet car like this but fawning over a fucking minivan?

Lexus LC500 complaints:

Oh, the grill is too big...
The interior is too brown...
It looks like a hideously overwrought and tortured piece of plastic...
The design language is too busy...

Meanwhile, in the minivan thread.

Handsfree door opening is a rather good idea...
Minivans make much more sense to me, or station wagons...
The plug-in hybrid is a great feature...
This looks pretty damn sweet...
The MPG in Hybrid mode looks impressive...

By the way, my wife wouldn't be caught dead owning or driving a minivan. She likes sporty cars... unlike you guys apparently.

 

[Pocatello]

OK... I can't take it anymore. What the hell is wrong with you people? Complaining about a sweet car like this but fawning over a fucking minivan?

Lexus LC500 complaints:

Oh, the grill is too big...
The interior is too brown...
It looks like a hideously overwrought and tortured piece of plastic...
The design language is too busy...

Meanwhile, in the minivan thread.

Handsfree door opening is a rather good idea...
Minivans make much more sense to me, or station wagons...
The plug-in hybrid is a great feature...
This looks pretty damn sweet...
The MPG in Hybrid mode looks impressive...

By the way, my wife wouldn't be caught dead owning or driving a minivan. She likes sporty cars... unlike you guys apparently.

I'm talking about the utility or usefulness of a minivan in general compare to SUV. If I win a lottery, I wouldn't buy this Lexus. Certainly not for looks. Most Lexus look meh to me.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

OK... I can't take it anymore. What the hell is wrong with you people? Complaining about a sweet car like this but fawning over a fucking minivan?



By the way, my wife wouldn't be caught dead owning or driving a minivan. She likes sporty cars... unlike you guys apparently.

Maybe because there are at least half a dozen other sporty cars that look a whole lot better for equal or less money?

Love me some sporty car. Have owned many. Also love me some minivan. Is it wrong to love so freely?

Are you sure you wanna bring your wife into this?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Maybe because there are at least half a dozen other sporty cars that look a whole lot better for equal or less money?

Love me some sporty car. Have owned many. Also love me some minivan. Is it wrong to love so freely?

Are you sure you wanna bring your wife into this?

Is there something wrong with my wife?

 

[tcG]

Bunch of filthy noobs in here. This car is awesome.

It looks distinctly Japanese, IMO. Some will always dislike anything that isn't classically European... whatever.

FWIW, I do agree that some of the details are a bit fussy.